phxdw conference 2025 schedule

In today's competitive and uncertain job market, one thing remains true: your brand as a designer is more than just your portfolio—it's how you present yourself online, on paper, and in person. This interactive workshop is designed specifically to help you update your resume, elevate your LinkedIn profile, and strengthen your networking strategy—so you're not only prepared for your next opportunity, but you're already attracting it. Whether you're a design student, switching careers, recovering from a layoff, or feeling stuck—this is your time to reset, refocus, and rebrand. Led by Evelyn Vega, an experienced creative recruiter and Amanda Miller, a top career and resume coach, this session offers honest insights and tips you can begin applying immediately.

You'll learn:

• How to tailor your resume and LinkedIn Profile so you stand out
• Tips for showcasing case studies and work samples strategically
• How to build connections that lead to real opportunities

FREE Conference Attendees

$50 Non-conference Attendees

Limit: 100 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

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If networking gives you the ick, this session is for you. Creative entrepreneur Julie Bonner (with a background in both design and business) shares how she built a thriving network in Arizona and online, without faking it. From turning business cards into conversation starters to making LinkedIn feel human again, you'll learn low-pressure ways to connect that feel like you.

You'll learn:

• Low-pressure, personality-aligned strategies for in-person and online networking
• Creative ideas to prep for events with confidence (and good design)
• How to make real LinkedIn connections (without being salesy)

FREE Conference Attendees

$25 Non-conference Attendees

Limit: 60 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

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This immersive workshop reconnects designers with nature to unlock creativity. Participants examine natural artifacts under magnification, discovering how nature's strategies can transform design approaches—from user experience to system architecture. The hands-on exploration combines professional development with wellness benefits, as research shows that Nature connection enhances mental clarity and creativity. Attendees leave with curated design principle cards and implementable ideas. Perfect for designers seeking creative renewal, those feeling stuck, or anyone wanting to integrate nature into their design process. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and openness to seeing challenges through nature's efficiency and sustainable innovation lens. And if the weather is good, we may take it outside!

You'll learn:

• Gain practical nature-based tools that inspire solutions to real design problems
• Experience dual professional development and scientifically backed health benefits
• Develop a sustainable system for creative renewal

FREE Conference Attendees

$50 Non-conference Attendees

Limit: 20 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

Register

This live, hands-on workshop is designed for designers who are brand new to Figma or still getting comfortable. Over the course of two hours, we'll walk through the basics of the interface, create a simple layout together, and troubleshoot any issues you're running into. Whether you've never opened Figma or you've clicked around and felt a little lost, this session will help you build confidence, ask questions in real time, and leave with a clearer path forward in your design journey.

You'll learn:

• Navigate Figma's interface with confidence—from frames to layers to components
• Design your first layout using shapes, text, colors, and basic auto layout
• Collaborate in real time, leave feedback, and troubleshoot common beginner hiccups

$50 Conference Attendees

$100 Non-conference Attendee

Limit: 30 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

Register

Whether you're a student of graphic or web design, an entrepreneur, a seasoned software developer, or looking for professional development, this 2-hour workshop is the perfect recipe for learning and implementing accessibility across your print, digital, and development marketing

You'll learn:

• Define the Recipe: Break down key terms like accessibility, inclusivity, and universal design.
• Quick Fixes, Big Bakes: Whisk in simple updates that make your print, web, and dev projects more usable for everyone.
• Tools to Go: Leave with a toolkit of checklists, templates, and resources—ready to bake into your next project.

$50 Conference Attendees

$100 Non-conference Attendee

Limit: 30 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

Register

Tired of being second-guessed by clients, translating vague feedback, or negotiating with stingy tire kickers? It's time to stop reacting and start leading with strategy. In this workshop, you'll learn the exact framework Attic Salt uses to win premium branding projects and build brands that don't just look good, they lead markets. We'll dive deep into our proprietary Brand Seasoning® framework and teach you to uncover meaningful insights, align stakeholders early, and build a strategic foundation that elevates every creative decision.

Participants will receive access to Attic Salt's signature Brand Seasoning® Framework.

You'll learn:

• Increase their perceived value and earn higher higher-paying projects
• Reduce ambiguous client feedback and gain control of the design process
• Create strategic solutions and results, not just deliverables

$50 Conference Attendees

$100 Non-conference Attendee

Limit: 30 Attendees

Registration is required. Reserve or purchase as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite.

Register

You don't need to be the loudest person in the room to build a powerful network. In this interactive session designed specifically for introverts, we'll explore practical ways to grow your connections authentically, starting with your roots. Through a mix of real talk and low-pressure activities, you'll leave with actionable tips, new confidence, and most importantly: real connections. By the end of the session, everyone in the room will walk out knowing at least a few new people.

Critique is a fundamental part of any creative job, but few of us are taught how to navigate it well. Throughout your career, you will have countless opportunities to give and receive feedback — and both require different skill sets. In this candid, practical session, we'll explore proven strategies to strengthen your critique muscles, from setting clear expectations to receiving input without defensiveness. Along the way, you'll learn a bit about the neuroscience of how the brain processes criticism, why a solid sense of self is essential, and how feedback resilience can empower your personal life as much as your creative work. You'll leave with tools to make feedback less stressful, more useful, and even enjoyable.

Working in the Creative industry is a gift. We get to apply our skills to new challenges almost daily, and can share our ideas that drive the needle for clients. That said, it can sometimes also be taxing. If you are like me, you want to produce work that makes an impact for others, but may struggle to find your own creative outlet. In this session, I'll share my own experiences and takeaways in pursuing my own work alongside working as a Creative full-time. We will discuss the benefits of passion projects, how you can turn your own interests into a full-fledged endeavor, and ultimately elevate your skillset to better serve your clients.

Learn how local designer Hunter Saylor combined both graphic design and storytelling to create GLIZZYCON, a hot dog-themed merch drop that has two years of dropping during the summer. From the idea behind it to how it has created a fun tradition, this presentation will be insightful and entertaining for those who are looking to get into merch design and love glizzy, meme-worthy merch!

Design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about transforming how information is processed and retained. By understanding the neuroscience behind perception, designers can create work that not only captures attention but also enhances learning and memory. This session will equip your team with the knowledge to optimize cognitive load, apply neuropsychological principles, and design with the brain's natural learning patterns in mind.

A creative journey has no true end, just a series of shifting paths. As some doors close, others open to new ways of living and working in a world that constantly demands our attention. In this talk, I'll share personal stories and branding and illustration projects from the past year, along with thoughtful design challenges I've navigated along the way. I'll also discuss how I've begun integrating AI, not as a creative shortcut but as a tool to support workflow and solve production challenges. There will be time for open discussion, and I'll wrap with a brief Adobe Illustrator demo to share some of my process in action.

This presentation is about how we can all harness our human-ness more in a society that seems to be leaning in a direction where we are being forced to show up in a less authentic way. I will talk through how we can show up in our work, networking, and personal life in a more genuine and honest way. How we are all connected and rooted in realness. When we truly connect together we can lift our community to higher places.

We all have had many life experiences that root us in who we are today. I believe in taking these experiences and connecting them all together to bring out creativity, inspiration and drive to get things done. Operations can be seen as black and white and not always creative, but with the right structure, people and process you can bring any idea to life. I try to bring creative thinking to solving big problems and connecting the dots to make brilliant creative work. Operations doesn't have to be a negative or boring. It can be the path to seeing your dreams a reality in the world.

What do you do when you feel like a fraud but still have something to build?

In this session, Ill share how I launched WTF (Witness the Fitness), a lifestyle brand born from discomfort, doubt, and determination. As a creative stepping into the world of fitness, I didn't fit the mold and I didn't try to. Instead, I rooted deeper into who I am and used my skills to create a space that reflected me. We'll talk about bringing identity into new environments, turning creative tension into momentum, and building confidence one uncomfortable step at a time. If you've ever felt like you didn't belong, this is for you.

Advertising and marketing campaigns that use high-end visual effects can be more effective than those that don't. CGI and VFX hold a unique power to capture viewers' attention through visually stimulating content. Visual effects can help maintain viewer attention, which is crucial for ad effectiveness. Dynamic visuals can trigger emotional responses, improving brand perception and making advertisements more memorable. This technique leverages vivid colors, realistic textures, and motion, appealing to the sensory processing areas in the brain and leading to heightened engagement. CGI plays a crucial role in creating immersive brand experiences by enabling marketers to craft visually stunning and engaging content that captivates audiences.

Creatives focused on social impact and accurate information are more vital than ever in the fields of science and engineering. As Arizona's aerospace and technology sectors grow, driven by the CHIPS Act and the plausible Yuma Spaceport, job opportunities will increase. Creatives will be essential in translating complex topics into assets that inform both businesses and our communities. Shireen has dedicated her career to designing simple, yet impactful, infographics for institutions like ASU Biodesign Institute and NASA. She's now collaborating with award-winning science communicator Camille Bergin (@TheGalacticGal), leading design for "education-first" marketing strategies within the space industry. In this presentation, learn how to contribute to the research and space industry as a creative, leveraging infographics for impactful, community-driven marketing.

Cultural roots run deep, particularly in Japan where tradition continually redefines itself for the modern world. One aspect of this culture, in particular, has made eye-catching changes as it adapts to design in the 21st century. Emas are wooden votive plaques found at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. In their current rebirth, emas have adopted bright colors and striking designs to become keepsake objects in their own right as well as important brand identity elements for sacred sites. Despite their strong graphics, these unique objects have been overlooked in design literature. On a recent trip to Japan, I acquired 40 emas. In this presentation I will show examples and discuss how these plaques offer compelling lessons for identity design.

Walk to one of the many downtown Phoenix restaurants for lunch on your own, or pick up your preordered lunchbox and hang out with the cool kids on the first floor for impromptu roundtables and lunch 'n' learn sessions. Sorry, no outside food is permitted in the convention center.

Print is a tactile, immersive medium that demands a different approach than screen design. With over 25 years in the industry, Chris walks you through the key principles, tools, and techniques for elevating your designs of everything from brochures and business cards to large-format posters and packaging.

Chris will cover everything from color theory and resolution to prepress preparation, and how to avoid common pitfalls—such as color shifts or poor-quality images—that can ruin an otherwise great design. You'll also learn tips for working efficiently with print vendors, understanding file types, and using industry-standard tools to get the most out of your design software.

No registration is required, but you can purchase lunch as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite. Outside food is not allowed in the Convention Center

Preorder Lunch

We became graphic designers for a reason. More than likely, it involves sitting alone with a sketchbook or laptop for hours on end, creating something beautiful. So we cringe at the word “networking,” let alone the prospect of working a crowd. But in a world where relationships all too often beat out talent, we live and die by the connections we can build and maintain. So let's practice developing the people skills you need — on our terms.

No registration is required, but you can purchase lunch as an add-on in the PHXDW Conference Eventbrite. Outside food is not allowed in the Convention Center

Preorder Lunch

Creatives are burning out, often behind beautiful work. In an industry driven by vision and emotion, burnout doesn't always look like collapse. Sometimes it shows up as cynicism, overwhelm, or a disconnection from the creative process. The pressure to produce, pivot, and perform is constant, but sustainable inspiration can't grow in exhaustion.

In this interactive and story-rich session, Serban Mare, former Engineering Program Manager turned speaker, shares a personal and practical roadmap to help creatives reconnect with their energy, purpose, and imagination. You'll leave feeling grounded, recharged, and equipped to stay rooted in your craft without losing your spark.

This timed exercise will challenge you to brainstorm, select, and refine your brand attributes. These attributes will be used to craft an informal brand statement that you can use as the ground floor of building a personalized brand rooted in who you are and how your impact those around you.

Designers aren't just decorators, they're decision-makers. But too often, creative professionals get stuck in the execution cycle, treated like vendors instead of visionaries. In this session, you'll learn how to step into a more strategic role by applying brand thinking to your design work, leading conversations with clarity, and repositioning yourself as a true thought partner. If you're ready to stop taking orders and start setting the direction, this one's for you.

From designing swag that actually gets students to show up, to turning complex science into snackable infographics, working as an in-house designer for a land-grant university means every day is a surprise party. With insects. And spreadsheets.

In this talk, I'll share how I navigate a highly diverse range of clients and creative needs and how AI has become an unexpected but powerful creative partner in the mix. Whether it's speeding up iteration, exploring visual ideas, or translating academic speak into plain English, AI tools have helped me stay rooted in quality while adapting to constant shifts in content, audience, and context.

We'll talk practical examples, creative process, and why sometimes the best thing a designer can be is not just skilled—but adaptable. If you've ever felt like your job is one part Illustrator, one part improv, and one part triage nurse, this one's for you.

Learn how to manage your brand's reputation related to hot social issues without bias. Whether it's your name, tagline, messaging or advertising we'll examine the process of deciding if you should change it, tweak it or do nothing.

We often expect our career paths to be clear and linear, but it's usually the small, unexpected choices that shape our biggest breakthroughs. Discover the seemingly insignificant decisions Nicole made throughout her career that ultimately led to a full-time role at Paramount along with other creative highlights. If you've ever felt unsure about where to start, this one's for you!